Antimony. In acute cases the mucosa of mouth, œsophagus and stomach is inflamed, with erosions and ulcerations; in chronic cases there is marked emaciation.
Arsenic. Mucosa of stomach œdematous, hyperæmic and ecchymotic; over the hæmorrhages there may be grayish-white sloughs or erosions. In these there may be found granules or crystals of the poison. The glands of the mucosa show cloudy swelling and fatty degeneration. Yellow sulphide of arsenic may be seen on the gastric mucosa. The small intestine is filled with a rice-water-like fluid, as in cholera, and the mucosa is congested, swollen and hæmorrhagic; the lymphoid tissue may be swollen. There is slight icterus, cloudy swelling of all organs and ecchymoses in pericardium and pleura. In chronic poisoning with dilute solutions characteristic gastro-intestinal changes are wanting. In cases of suspected arsenic poisoning it is important to take portions of all organs and tissues for chemical examination.
Atropine. Death from asphyxia, resembles heat-exhaustion.
Chloral-hydrate. Hyperæmia of lungs, brain and cord. Examine urine.
Chloroform. Fatty degeneration of liver and heart. In delayed poisoning the liver shows picture of acute yellow atrophy, with marked icterus, widespread ecchymoses, cloudy swelling of kidneys and fatty degeneration of heart. Lungs, brain and liver may or may not give odor of chloroform.
Ergot. Sclerosis and contraction of arteries; gangrene of endometrium; in chronic cases sclerosis of the posterior columns of the cord.
Formalin. Corrosive action on mucosa of stomach; formic-acid in urine.
Hydrocyanic Acid and Potassium Cyanide. The mucosa of stomach is deep red, swollen, softened and sometimes translucent; soapy to the touch; odor of bitter almonds or ammonia; blood is fluid, dark or light cherry-red; red hypostasis.
Illuminating-gas and Carbon-monoxide. Blood fluid and cherry-red; cadaver life-like; pink hypostasis; carbon-monoxide-hæmoglobin in blood demonstrated by spectroscope. In poisoning by coal-gas the changes are less marked because of the greater amount of carbon dioxide present. Inhalation of smoke is shown by black, sooty deposits upon the mucosa of the respiratory tract.
Lead. In acute cases severe gastro-enteritis; black fluid in intestines; cloudy swelling of kidneys. In chronic cases arteriosclerosis, fatty degeneration of muscles, liver, kidneys and spleen; cirrhosis; blue line on gums.